Kansas City Royals 2026 Preview: Decidedly Mediocore is Better than Being Bad, Though Not As Good As The Royals Hope
The Kansas City Royals have finished around .500 the past two seasons. They are likely to finish right around there in 2026. That would mean they miss the playoffs and finish in third the the American League Central division.
The Kansas City Royals start and end with shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. He is signed to a long-term deal. The Royals’ batting order and pitching rotation are good, but not great. They are clearly trying to compete in the American League Central, but lack the star power. Can Witt Jr. pitch?
Kansas City Royals 2026 Preview
The starting rotation is most likely the most important to this team. The rotation experienced injuries last year. The Kansas City Royals are not good enough to withstand injuries to their starting pitching rotation. The ace of this staff is Cole Ragans. Injuries limited him to just thirteen starts last season.
The number two starter is Seth Lugo. He needs to stay healthy as well, but has a dizzying array of pitches. Michael Wacha is the third starter on the team. He did well for most of last season, though he finished roughly.
Stephen Kolak might be the fourth starter on the staff. He came on late last season. Kris Bubic is the fifth starter. He had a 2.55 earned run average last season. Other starters could include Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, Bailey Falter, or Lucinder Avila. So, there could be some depth that did not exist last season.
Relief Pitching Outlook
In terms of relief pitching, the Royals have an excellent one-two punch in Carlos Estevez and Lucas Erceg. The rest of the bullpen for the Kansas City Royals is more of a question, with Matt Stram (whom they acquired via trade with the Philadelphia Phillies), John Schreiber, Nick Mears, and Daniel Lynch IV.
Those guys will need to improve upon the Royals’ third-worst in Major League Baseball bullpen strikeout rate. At catcher, the Royals have the ageless wonder in Salvador Perez. He had thirty home runs and one hundred runs batted in last season.
He will be helped by prospect Carter Jensen. Around the rest of the infield, there are stars for the Kansas City Royals. Makiel Garcia broke out offensively last season. At shortstop, superstar Bobby Witt Jr. is the superstar. Finally, at first base, Vinny Pasquitino hit thirty home runs last season.
The Questionable Second Base Position
Second base is a bit of a question for the Royals. They brought in Jonathan India last season to solidify the position. He did not have a good season in 2025, and Michael Massey could see time at second base. Outfield is more of a question. Nobody got less offensive production from their outfield than the Royals last season.
They brought in some new players. Expect Isaac Collins, Jac Caglianone, and Kyle Isbel to start left to right, but do not be surprised if you see new acquisition Lane Thomas or Sterling Marte out there. There are a few more players who could see time in the outfield for the Royals.
Given the lack of production for Kansas City last year, changes are in the offing. Expect Salvador Perez and Vinny Pasquintino to get at-bats at designated hitter. The Royals will use this position to give players a half-day off. There is no set DH.
Kansas City is an organization on the rise. President of Baseball Operations, JJ Piccollo, has been in place since 2022. He has brought continuity. Manager Matt Quatraro has a steady demeanor and is a calming presence. The Royals have several good prospects, and the organization is headed in the right direction.
Parting Shots
The Kansas City Royals will be good, not great, in 2026. The safe bet is for 80-85 wins. They have a superstar in shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., and they have a couple of solid hitters in Sal Perez and Vinny Pasquino. The starting rotation is also strong, but their bullpen and outfield are weak.
